To counter the high-octane passing games that are dominating the NFL, teams are desperate for quality cover men. Specifically, the demand for tall cornerbacks has never been greater with big receivers becoming more and more prevalent. Below is a breakdown of the top 10 cornerback prospects entering the college season:

1. David Amerson, junior, NC State

Amerson (6-3, 194, 4.45 40-yard dash) has everything teams want in a cornerback for today’s NFL. He possesses a rare combination of great height, tremendous all-around athleticism and excellent natural ball skills. He has the strength to slow the release of receivers and the hips to turn and run with them without losing a step. Amerson has the speed to stay with receivers on deep routes, which is something few tall corners can do. In zone alignments, he reads the quarterback well. He can plant, drive and close quickly on passes and is consistently able to break up or intercept passes. Projection: First-round pick

2. Johnthan Banks, senior, Mississippi State

Banks (6-2, 180, 4.40 40) has started 32 games entering his senior season and been an elite player at both cornerback and safety. His ability to learn quickly, combined with his natural instincts and athleticism, enables him to be a shutdown corner. With his great height, long arms and deceptively smooth skills, Banks has consistently shown the ability to stay on the hip of receivers all over the field in tight man coverage. He also can plant, drive and close explosively on receivers from zone alignments. Projection: First-round pick

3. Blidi Wreh-Wilson, senior, Connecticut

After battling through a knee injury that cost him half of last season, Wilson (6-2, 190, 4.50) enters 2012 needing to prove he can get back to his pre-injury form. With excellent height, the speed to stay with receivers on deep routes and ball skills, he has the tools to be a top starter in the NFL. Not many tall corners can change directions and flip their hips as easily as Wilson, which allows him to cover shorter, quick receivers as well as tall wideouts. He needs to prove he is healthy, but he also will need a strong week at the Senior Bowl to show he can handle covering the best receivers in the country. Projection: Second-round pick

4. Kyle Fuller, junior, Virginia Tech

Fuller (6-0, 193, 4.50 40) stepped up in 2011 and could be on the verge of becoming one of the nation’s premier cornerbacks in 2012. He’s one of the toughest and most physical defensive backs in the country and consistently has shown the ability to break up passes by delivering hard hits as the ball arrives. For a 6-foot corner, he moves with remarkable ease in “zone” coverage, reads the quarterback well and closes fast to make plays on the ball. Fuller has the talent to move up draft boards but needs to prove to NFL teams that he has the speed to run with the fastest receivers in the county. Projection: Third-round pick

5. Tyrann Mathieu, former LSU player

Mathieu (5-9, 175, 4.40 40) was dismissed from the LSU football team earlier this month for reportedly violating the school’s substance abuse policy. He apparently will not play football this season, but as a junior in eligibility he could enter the draft next spring. He is a rare athlete, which is why he has been an impact cornerback and returner despite his lack of ideal size. He has the coverage and return ability to challenge to be a first-round pick, but he would have to convince teams that he has gotten past his off-field problems. Projection: Third-round pick

6. Ryan Lacy, senior, Utah

Having come to Utah as a receiver, Lacy (5-9, 190, 4.45 40) has made big strides at turning himself into one of the better cornerbacks in the country. He lacks ideal height, but he has tremendous quickness and top-end speed and the explosive closing burst to consistently make plays on the ball. Projection: Third-round pick

7. Sheldon Price, senior, UCLA

This will be Price’s fourth year as a starter for UCLA, and if he continues to improve, he could rise up draft boards. A former track star in high school and a former member of UCLA’s track team, Price (6-1, 185, 4.50) combines speed with football instincts and toughness that few cornerbacks have. Projection: Third-round pick

8. Melvin White, senior, Louisiana-Lafayette

White (6-1, 195, 4.55 40) has all the physical tools to potentially be a first-round pick. To leap-frog cornerbacks on this list, however, he will need to prove he can handle receivers at the highest level. All-star game workouts figure to be crucial for him. Projection: Fourth-round pick

9. Leon McFadden, senior, San Diego State

McFadden (5-10, 187, 4.50 40) is a former high school receiver who made the switch to cornerback as a freshman and has played in every game of his college career. He lacks size and does not have special speed, but he does an excellent job of staying with receivers and making plays on the ball. Projection: Fourth-round pick

10. D.J. Hayden, senior, Houston

In his first year at Houston after a junior college career, Hayden (5-11, 192, 4.50) proved he clearly belonged and was a corner opposing offenses avoided. He displayed good technique and, combined with his coverage instincts, made it look easy covering receivers. He will need to prove he has top-end speed if he wants to move up draft boards.Projection: Fourth-round pick